Postponed! California Straw Building Association presents A Clay Plaster Scratch Coat Workshop July 15-16, 2023 Santa Rosa, CA

Unfortunately we've had to postpone this workshop. Hopefully it will take place in September. Stay tuned for announcements!

Thank you!

The bales are in and the walls are stuffed. Now for the real fun! Join us to learn how to apply clay plaster to straw bale walls! 

This two day workshop will transform the interior of the straw bale walls with a base coat (also called the scratch coat) of plaster. Topics covered will include basics of straw bale construction, plaster preparation (stuffing, pinning, lath, paper), plaster testing, recipes, material sourcing, mixing, and applying. A mix of instruction time and hands-on experience will provide you with the basic knowledge of clay plastering and it's use in straw bale construction. The goal of the workshop is to accommodate every participant’s interest and skill level. Each participant can expect to participate in the various aspects of the plastering process to ensure the broadest possible hands-on experience. Evenings and meal times will allow for additional question/answer time and presentations.

This new custom home is being built by Crafted Earth (https://craftedearth.com) a design, engineering, and construction firm in the North Bay.  Instructors are Kita Glass, a natural builder in Santa Cruz, and Darles Eaton, a natural builder in the East Bay. 

Cost:   $150. *Limited scholarships available upon request. 

Accommodations:

Meals, beverages and snacks are included beginning with breakfast on Saturday and concluding with lunch on Sunday. We will have a washing area with a camp shower (has hot water) and toilet facilities (porto potties). There is plenty of space on-site for camping Friday night and Saturday night. There are hotels/motels in the area. Ask if you need support finding accommodation. Site location, driving directions and other information are provided with confirmation of registration. 

Please do not come if you are feeling sick, we will reimburse your tuition.

For additional workshop info contact Allison Arnold at allisonannearnold@gmail.com or 301-357-0582.